Cancer

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the development of abnormal cells that divide and grow uncontrollably in any part of the body. It is a very frequent disease due to the increase in the aging of the population and early detection systems. Cancer treatments are aimed at curing the disease or, in its absence, to chronify it. Blocking the genetic abnormality of the cancer cell or stimulating the patient's immune system are the main lines of cancer research.

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What is Cancer?

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Cancer | PortalCLÍNIC

I am sure that the future will bring more medications, and procedures to treat the vast majority of disease cancers.

Álvaro Urbano Hematologist

Cancer explained in a first person ...

It is all bearable. The chemotherapy really is hard, but I thought it would be worse.

Ana Patient

The term cancer encompasses a very large group of illnesses that are all characterised by abnormal cell growth; cancer cells divide and grow in an uncontrolled manner and in any part of the body.

Cells normally grow and divide to form new cells as, and when, the body requires them. When a normal cell ages or is damaged, it dies and is replaced by a new cell. In the case of cancer, however, the body loses control over this highly ordered process. As the cells become increasingly abnormal, the old or damaged cells survive instead of dying and new cells develop when they are not required. This uninterrupted cell division forms masses, otherwise known as tumours.

How does Cancer develop?

Cancer has its origin in the genes that are responsible for controlling the reproduction of cells. This genetic origin can be hereditary or due to changes that occur in the structure of genes throughout life, either spontaneously or due to the impact of environmental factors that affect the structure of genes.

Cancer cells differ from healthy ones by presenting molecular alterations that cause modifications in their normal functioning. That is, the normal process of cell growth and death is disrupted, causing uncontrolled cell division with an excess of cells that accumulate in the body and create tumors.

In the case of benign tumours, there is an increase in the number of cells, but they continue to have a normal structure and function.

Malignant tumours can spread to nearby tissues. Some cells can grow in neighbouring organs beyond where the initial tumour developed, spreading by means of blood vessels or the lymphatic system. This process is called metastasis.

What is Cancer?

Living with the disease

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Substantiated information by:

Albert Tuca Rodríguez Oncologist Paliative Care Support Unit

Aleix Prat Aparicio Oncologist Oncology Department

Francesc Balaguer Prunes Gastroenterologist Gastroenterology Department

Meritxell Mollà Armandà Radiation Oncologist Radiation Oncology Department

Montserrat Valverde Bosch Nurse Hematology Department

Vanessa Vilas Clinical Psychologist Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology Department

Álvaro Urbano Ispizua Hematologist Hematology Department

Published: 12 November 2018
Updated: 20 November 2018

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